Has The Golf World Completely Underestimated Donald Trump?

Yesterday the British Parliament debated calls to ban Donald Trump from entering the UK. The debate was triggered by a 500,000 signature petition from Brits who were outraged by his recent comments – too many to list.

Golf and politics have always been linked but now this association has put the sport in a very uncomfortable position. “Golf has embraced Trump and his largesse but now it is starting to feel rather grubby by association,” writes the BBC.

Golf’s governing bodies, the PGA TOUR, The USGA and the R&A, have all had their hands in the Trump cookie jar and now they’re stuck. Trump visited these brothels institutions, leaving behind some irreparable damage.

The survival instincts of this polarising figure would put Rasputin to shame, he is living proof that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. So when we ask if golf has underestimated Donald Trump, the answer is yes! Now is he untouchable?

Rasputin: Poisoned, beaten, shot and still lived.

Sidenote: Prime Minister David Cameron has labelled Trumps comments about Muslims as “stupid”– a choke slamming insult for apologetic Brits – but refused to support a ban, telling MPs the tycoon would “unite us all against him”.

Yes Trump is bigger than golf!

Trump has insisted he will be withdrawing £700 million worth of investment if he is banned from Britain.

Trump has created jobs in Scotland.

In a statement he said he would “immediately end these and all future investments we are currently contemplating in the United Kingdom.” In certain parts of job- deprived Scotland you can influence politics with such a remark. Corri Thomas, the MP who represents the constituency where one of Trump’s investments is based, condemned his politics but said that banning him would be “catastrophic for local community around Turnberry.” The R&A pussy-footed around further, highlighting his authority over certain ‘prestigious’ governing bodies, it’s like he has them in headlock gagged with dollar bills.

Some of those he has ‘offended’ don’t care either.

Much of the golfing world insist Trump’s comments will jeopardize his business in Arab countries, but when you look closer it’s clear this has not happened. Trump has a partnership with a Dubai real estate development club, and do you think companies like DAMAC care about his remarks?

They didn’t give a hapenny jizz: “We would like to stress that our agreement is with the Trump Organisation as one of the premium golf course operators in the world and as such we would not comment further on Mr. Trump’s personal or political agenda, nor comment on the internal American political debate scene,” said a spokesperson.

Golf should be concerned. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is, the man has slowly become the unintended face of world golf. This is the fault of governing bodies for leveraging his wealth and fame for short term growth. No personality should be bigger than a sport, and whilst the likes of Spieth, McIlroy and Day showcase the game with respect, Trump continues to shroud golf in controversy dragging us through the mud as he unleashes pointlessly offensive rhetoric. The worst thing is that the movers and shakers of the golf world foolishly allowed him to become our pin up boy.